Index guide



0. W. PHALEN.

INDEX GUIDE. APPLICATION FILED 05c. 24, I92!- Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

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Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

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CLARENCE w. rnannitor QUINCY, mnssaonosn'r'rs.

INDEX GUIDE. I

Application filed December as, 1921. Serial No. 5241,6382.

. ,which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to index cards. or sheets of the character employed in filing,

guides to enable the user readily to locate the subject matter desired, and especially to index guides of the type provided with a transparent protective covering and having a pocket for the reception of a removable datacarrying insert or slip. Such guides may constitute separate index cards, or may be formed as portions'of file wrappers or portfolios, or otherwise in accordance with the system in connection withv which they are used. 1 f V The invention has for an object to provide an index guide of the character referred to of substantial and durable construction .so as to withstand, I for a considerable period, the destructive effects of rough and continuous handling, which will permit the'use of in- 'serts of varying sizes, and which will securely retain an insert in place against accidental dislodgment. a

The foregoing and other objects ofthe invention, together with means whereby the same may be carried into efiect, will best be understood from the following description of one form or embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings. it y will be understood, however, that a par- "ticularcons'truction described and shown has been chosen for illustrative purposes merely, and that the invention, as defined by the claims hereunto appended, may be embodied in numerous other forms, which will readily suggest themselves to'those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of scope thereof. v i

In said drawings, Fig. 1 is a face view of the complete indexportion of a guide card or sheet embodyingfthe invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the tab portion of the sheet or card shown in Figure 1 prior tothe attachmentof the other parts making .up the complete device Fig. 3 is a detail view ofthe reinforcing inemben i 1 Fig. A is a detail view of the transparent covering prior to its application to the de vice. y i

Fig. 5 is a sectiontaken substantially on the line 5+5, Figure 1. v I

- Fig. 6 is a section taken substantially on theline 66, Figure 1. card catalogue, and similarfsystems having v As shown in the drawings; the'index card or sheet 10 (hereinafter, for convenience, referredto merely as the card) is formed at its upper edge with b a projecting portion 11 lying substantially inthe plane ofthe body of said card and constituting a tab. Secured, as by suitable adhesive, to'one face oi'the of the card 10 (herein the rear face) is areinforcing member 12 having a tab portion 13 corresponding to thetab portion 11 of the card 10 and overlying the same. The rein-.. :torcing member 12, with its tab portion13,

serves notonly to reinforce the tab orindex portion 11 of the card 10,buta1so the adjacent portions oii said card, so as to'prevent mutilation oi the latter and the bending or breaking ofi' of the tab portion thereof. The tab portions 11 and 13 of the card lO and reinforcing member 12, well as the adjacent portions of said card and member, are protected and incl osed by a protective covering. 14 oi? a suitable transparent waterproof material, preferably celluloid. The protective covering 1a is secured to the opposite races of the card 10 and reinforcingmember 19. re

spectively, and extends over the upper edges thereofland specifically over the upper edges of the tab portions 11 and 13, being, in the preferred form of invention, a cut away, as shown at 15 in Figure 4: to correspond in shape with said tab portions while effectively covering the opposite races and upper edges of the latter.

, The guide above described is provided in its forward face with an opening 16, said opening, in the "form of invention shown, be-v ing formed in the tab portion 11 oi the card 10 and, in conjunction with the tab portion 13 of the reinforcing member 12 at the back and theprotective covering 1% the front,

- constituting a pocket to receive a removable.

data-carrying insert or slip 17, shown in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 5, said insert or slip being readily readable through that portion of the transparent covering 1 1 which overlies the opening 16 at the front. The covering let is provided opposite one end of the opening or pocket 16 With an opening 18 to permit insertion and removal of the slip 17. In the construction shown, and in accordance With the preferred form of the invention, this insertion and removal opening is at the back of the device, the tab portion 13 of the reinforcing member 12 being formed With a registering opening 19 constituting a portion of said insertion and removal opening.

In order to insert a data-carrying slip 17, one end of said slip is passed transversely through the opening 18, 19, and the slip pushed longitudinally into the pocket 16, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 5. Preferably, the slip 17 employed Will be of a length substantially equal to or slightly less than the length of the pocket 16, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, in which case said slip Will pass completely through the opening 18,19, and will lie Wholly Within said pocket, Where it Will be securely retained against accidental dislodgment, since a transverseas Well as a longitudinal movement of the end of said strip is necessary in order to remove the same, such transverse movement being resisted by the adjacent face of the tab portion 13 of the reinforcing member 12. It will be seen, however, that when desired said strip may be removed by inserting a suitable implement in the opening 18, 19, and lifting the adjacent end of the strip a suflicient amount to enable the same to be grasped by the fingers. It Will also be seen that the device is not limited to use With inserts or slips of any particular length, since in the case of a slip longer than the pocket 16, one end of said slip may be left projecting from the opening 18, 19, as indicated in Figure 5. In the latter event, accidental dislodgment or removal of the slip Will be resisted by pressure thereof against the adjacent edges of the opening 18, 19, induced by the resilience of the slip, Which is preferably composed of relatively stiff paper or cardboard.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An index guide comprising a card having a body or data-receiving portion and at the edge thereof an index portion, a reinforcing member secured to one face of the body portion of said card and having a portion overlying the index portion thereof, and a protective covering of transparent material extending over the edge of the index portion of said card and the edge of the adjacent portion of said reinforcing member and secured to the opposite faces of said card and reinforcing member respectively, said guide having at the front an opening constituting an insert-receiving pocket covered by said protective covering, and having in one face opposite one end of said pocket an opening to permit the insertion and removal of the insert, said last-named openingextending through said protective covering.

2. "An index guide comprising a card having an index tab projecting from one edge and lying substantially in the plane of the body thereof, a reinforcing member secured to one face of said card and havingv a tab portion corresponding to the tab on said card and overlying the same, and a protective covering of transparent material extending over the top of said tab and tab portion" and secured to the opposite faces of said card and reinforcing member respectively, said guide having at the front an opening constituting an insert-receiving pocket covered by said protective covering, and having in' one face opposite one end of said pocket an opening to permit the insertion and removal of the insert, said last-named opening extending through said protective covering. ing an opening constituting an insert-receiv- 3. An index guide comprising a card having pocket, a reinforcing member secured to the rear face of said card and overlying said pocket, and a protective covering of transparent material extending over the top of said card and reinforcing member and secured to the front and rear faces thereof respectively, said covereing extending over said opening and having an opening opposite one end of said pocket to permit the in-' sertion and removal of the insert. I

4. An 1ndex guide comprlsing card having an opening constituting an insertreceiving pocket, a reinforcing member secured to the rear face of said card and overlying said pocket, and a protective covering of transparent material extending over the top of said card and reinforcing member and secured to the front and rear faces thereof respectively, said covering extending over said opening and said reinforcing member and covering having at the back of the guide registering openings opposite one end of said pocket to permit the nsertion and removal of the insert.

5. An index guide comprising a card having an index tab projecting from one edge and lying substantially in the plane of the body thereof, a reinforcing member secured to one face of said card and having a tab" portion corresponding to the tab on'said card and overlying the same, and a protective covering of transparent material extending over the top of said tab and tab portion and secured to the opposite faces of said card and reinforcing member respectively, said tab having an opening constituting an insert-receiving pocket covered by said protective covering, and said protective covering having an opening opposite one end of'said pocket to permit the insertion and removal of the insert.

6. An index guide comprising a card have 7 ing an index tab projecting from one edge and lying substantially in the plane of the body thereof, said tab having an opening constituting an insert-receiving pocket, a reinforcing member secured to the rear face of said card and having a tab portion corresponding to the tab on said card and overlyingthe same, and a protective covering of the front and rear faces of said card and reinforcing member respectively, said covering extending over said opening, and said reinforcing member and covering having, at the back of the guide, registering openings oppositeone end of said pocket to permit the insertion and removal of the insert.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CLARENCE W. PHALEN. 

